Improvement in bird-cages



G. T. PETERS.

Bird-Cages.

NO. 153,111. I Patented July 14, 1874. Tag] 9. y Jz. 1 F a G. I -G-.

TUE GRAPHIC C0. PHUYO'UTPLZQ In 4| PARK PLAEEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. PETERS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BIRD-CAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,1 l l, dated July 14, 1874 applicat on filed January 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PErERs, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bird-Cages, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object to furnish a bird-cage in which effectual provision is made for preventing particles of food, dirt, and water from being thrown from the cage on the floor or furniture; and to this end the invention consists of a sub-chamber, removably connected to the base of a bird-cage, said base having an open bottom and depending flange for carrying the fastening devices by which the base and sub-chamber are connected, as hereinafter described. The invention further consists in securing the base or lower detachable section of the cage to the upper section by means of hinged fastening-plates, which are provided with projections or flanges which slip under a top flange formed on the upper edge of the base after the same has been entered into a rim at the bottom of the upper section.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bird-cage with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a' vertical section of the base or lower section.

The upper section or body of the bird-cage, designated by the letter A, is constructed in the usual manner of wire-work, or other material, and is provided with the ordinary door a and perch b, and other appendages common to bird-cages. The bottom B of the upper section is made with a broad outwardly-projectin g ledge, c, and is provided with a central large opening, 0, which forms the communication with the base or lower section D of the cage. Said base, which forms a chamber in which are located the feed-cups and bath-tubs used in connection with bird-cages, is connected with the upper section in a detachable manner, so as to enable it to be readily removed for the purpose of cleansing the same, or for removing the waste food and dirt accumulating therein. The base or lower section is preferably constructed of glass, but it may be made of other materials, such as isinglass, earthenware, porcelain, metal, or wood, and in every instance it is connected to the upper section by such fastening devices as may be deemed most expedient for the purpose.

I prefer to use in the construction of the base of the cage materials which are both transparent and impermeable to liquids, as such a base will leave the entire interior of the cage open to inspection. The base, when made of glass or other material, may be molded in one piece, or it may be constructed of ametallic holding-frame adapted for the reception of glass or other plates, and the base may also be provided with a supporting-foot, d, which is cemented or otherwise secured to the same.

For the purpose of forming the connection with the base and top section in an effectual and secure manner, I provide the bottom B of the latter with a pendent rim or flange, I, to

which are applied two or more hinged fastening-plates, G, having horizontal shoulders or flanges g, which enter the space between the rim F and the concentric rim or flange H, formed around the edge of the opening 0 in the bottom B. The upper edge of the base or lower section is formed with a horizontal rim, which, when inserted into the bottom of the top sections, will permit the shoulders g of the fastening-plates to be slipped under the same, so as to sustain it in position. The fastening plates are locked by means of turn-buttons h, the shanks of which pass through slots in the fastening-plates, and enter the rim F.

In the body of the lower section are formed a suitable number of openings, I, which are designed to receive the ordinary externallylocated drinking and feed cups K, said cups being provided with hooks, which are fitted over the edges of the openings to secure the same in position.

The superiority and advantages of a detach able closed base for bird-cages are manifold and obvious, for by the use of the same the injurious and annoying spattering of food or dirt on the floors of rooms is entirely obviated; and, furthermore, by making the base detachable, the cage can always be maintained in a clean state, as all matters accumulating in the base can be readily removed by detaching the same and cleansing it.

When the base is made of a transparent material the cage is open for inspection throughout the entire interior, which is not the case with the ordinary cages, when the bird is at the bottom of the same.

The closed base, which may properly be denominated a feeding and refuse chamber, generally contains a bath-tub, which is thus rendered unobjectionable, owing to the fact that no water can be displaced from the same as to escape from the cage.

The base of the cage, when made of glass,

may, if desired, be provided with a protective covering of wire-work.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let,- ters Patent, is-

1. The chamber D, connected to the removable base of a bird-cage, when said base is GEORGE T. PETERS. [Li

Witnesses: J OHN PELL, FRANCIS B. RANDOLPH. 

